Images of the World

The Wall of Global Images at the train station in
Odense, august 21-28 2000

The Mexican muralist Gustavo Chávez Pavón is visiting
Denmark in order to create a 3 x 12 m mural at the train station in Odense. The
process will be organized in the collective spirit of much Mexican artistic
creation. The group of assistants will consist of local artists and students
from the workshop of Jens Galschiot. Citizens in Odense and passers-by will have
the opportunity to monitor the process as it slowly progresses in the course of
the week. In addition to this, the process can be viewed through the Internet
at: www.aidoh.dk.

The Mural "The Wall of Global Images" is
grounded in the theme of the Images of the World festival: "The
consequences of globalization on the cultures of the world". Are local
cultures capable of preserving their particularity and in the same time relating
to global cultural expressions? Or is the cultural diversity of the world on its
way to being levelled out, ultimately resulting in a state where clothes, food,
TV-programmes, taste, ideals, art, religion, and outlooks on life are
standardized? Gustavo will take his point of departure in a Mexican’s point of
view. Mexico is on one hand deeply rooted in the Indian culture and philosophy
of life, and on the other hand under a strong influence from the neighbour to
the north, USA.

For more than 10 years Gustavo Chávez Pavón has
travelled around his native country and put his characteristic marks on walls,
banners and stamps. He links the history of Mexico with current social
conditions, which is in the line with the Mexican tradition of e.g. Diego
Rivera. In this tradition art is used as the direct means of creating a dialogue
with the society from which it springs. Gustavo’s production is rooted in a
belief in art’s possibility of influencing and bettering social conditions,
and his productions are often organized as collective events that involve the
local inhabitants of the places he operates. Gustavo cooperates extensively with
the Indian revolutionary movements and has created several large murals at
universities in Mexico City in connection to student revolts. Several of Gustavo’s
works are created in direct opposition to the government in office.

The event is arranged in cooperation with the Danish
artist Jens Galschiot who lives in Odense. Among Galschiot’s most renowned
works are e.g. "The Pillar of Shame", which can be understood as the
Nobel prize of injustice and "My Inner Beast", which is a sculptural
happening placed all over Europe. The works of Galschiot are used as ways to put
focus on ethical problems around the world. The chaotic events that often follow
them become a part of the artwork and trigger "the theatre of
reality".

This is an invitation to the inauguration of the painting
on Wednesday August 30 at 3 pm - 6 pm at Gallery Galschiot, Banevaenget 22, 5270
Odense N, where the painting will decorate the outside of the gallery. Gustavo
will talk about his extensive production and show some slides. The Mexican band
Bola Suriana will demonstrate their unique blend of traditional and new music
from Latin America. Jens Galschiot and Images of the World will offer a glass of
champagne.